Sunday, July 22, 2012

The Lombardi Family’s First Home

Packers’ coach Vince Lombardi’s second (and most famous) home in Green Bay has been featured widely in the media and can be found easily by doing a Google search. But the first home the Lombardi’s lived in upon their 1959 arrival in Green Bay is much lesser known. Pictured above are Vince Lombardi, Sr. (left), Marie Lombardi (next to Vince, Sr.), Vince Lombardi, Jr., and Susan Lombardi (on lower step). According to “When Pride Still Mattered” by David Maraniss, the coach “impulsively” purchased the home while in Green Bay to interview (and ultimately be offered) the Packers’ head coach and general manager position. This was with no input from his wife or family. One can only imagine the grief he received later. It wasn’t very long before they moved into the second home.

The modern-day home is shown above in this Bing Birds-Eye view. It is the white home with the blue dot on it. We may do a drive-by visit on our upcoming Training Camp trip. How’s this sound for an upcoming Green Bay visits itinerary?: This Tuesday to the Shareholders’ Meeting, returning home late that night. Then hopefully a trip back up next Saturday for a Training Camp practice (up and back on the same day). Then, the official Training Camp visit with the family from August 4-8. Lastly, a two-day trip for the Thursday, August 16th preseason game against the Cleveland Browns. It’s 416 miles round trip, or seven hours in the car (round trip). But, if it wasn’t worth it, we wouldn’t do it.